BA Creative Writing and Publishing

About this course

Creative writing and publishing are disciplines that sit at the heart of culture: one concerned with making original written work, the other with getting that work into the world and into the hands of readers. Together they form a natural pairing, because understanding the craft of writing enriches your appreciation of publishing, and understanding how the publishing industry works gives a writer a clearer sense of audience, form, and purpose. This combination has become increasingly important in a world where consumers navigate vast amounts of written content and where the need for carefully produced, thoughtfully curated material matters more than ever. At the University of Derby, this part-time programme includes a foundation year for those building their skills and confidence before degree-level study, a sandwich placement year for substantial professional experience, a year abroad, and work placement integrated into the course. This combination of structural features gives you considerable opportunity to develop practical skills alongside your academic learning, and to build a genuine portfolio and professional network before you graduate. You will study the craft elements of creative writing across a range of genres and forms, and you will explore how the publishing industry functions: how books, journals, and digital content are commissioned, edited, produced, and marketed. The curriculum reflects the reality that creative and commercial skills must be developed together to prepare graduates for the careers available in this sector. Graduates from creative writing and publishing programmes pursue careers as writers, editors, literary agents, commissioning editors, communications managers, content producers, and marketing professionals within the publishing and media industries. The skills you develop, including attention to detail, storytelling, editorial judgement, and project management, transfer widely across journalism, public relations, corporate communications, and education. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in creative writing, publishing, or journalism, or use their foundation to develop careers as freelance writers and editors across print and digital platforms.

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